Deshaun Watson has a bumpy road to winning league MVP for the 2020 season.
According to BetMGM, the Houston Texans franchise quarterback had the fourth-highest odds in the NFL to win league MVP in 2020 as of a week after Super Bowl LIV. The two-time Pro Bowler had 12 to 1 odds.
However, odds-makers have allowed Watson to fall further thanks to the offseason wheeling and dealing from Trader Bill. The former 2017 first-round pick’s odds to win NFL MVP are 25 to 1, tied with Aaron Rodgers, Kyler Murray, and Carson Wentz for the seventh-highest in the league. Even the Dallas Cowboys’ Dak Prescott has better odds at 20 to 1, which are the same odds as Drew Brees.
Watson’s odds taking a tumble are due to the moves coach and general manager Bill O’Brien made over the offseason. On March 16, it was announced the Texans were trading three-time All-Pro receiver DeAndre Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals for running back David Johnson and a couple of draft picks. That was the biggest hit to Watson’s odds.
Like with the Texans not representing in Gil Brandt’s top-10 quarterback-receiver duos despite having Watson healthy and under center, it is the same with Watson’s MVP odds. There are too many variables at receiver to have any confidence in the Texans’ passing game. Sure, Brandin Cooks thrives with the deep ball, a pass Watson can throw very well, but is the former Los Angeles Ram over his concussion issues? Will Fuller takes the top off defenses, but can he stay healthy for a significant portion of the season to help Houston vie for the No. 1 seed?
Patrick Mahomes is the favorite at 3.5 to 1 with Russell Wilson second with 6.5 to 1 odds. Lamar Jackson has 7 to 1 odds, and Tom Brady has 14 to 1 odds before Brees and Prescott tie with fifth-best odds. The highest non-quarterback was New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley with 40 to 1 odds, tied with Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan for the 11th-highest in the NFL.
Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.
[vertical-gallery id=44281]